General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

253/458

GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

O. A. OLSEN

Twenty-first Meeting, April 17, 10:30 A. M.

ELDER O. A. OLSEN in the chair.

Prayer by F. M. Wilcox. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.7

The Chair: Are there any committees that desire to report before we enter upon the special order of the Conference? GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.8

C. C. Lewis: The Committee on Education has a further report that they would like to submit, as follows:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.9

“6. In the support of church schools, local needs should be met, if possible, by local tuition or voluntary donations, and pupils should be encouraged to earn their tuition or contributions to the expense fund. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.10

“7. Church schools should continue their work to the sixth or seventh grade, and intermediate schools to the ninth or tenth. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.11

“8. Intermediate industrial schools should be established wherever it seems advisable. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.12

“9. All who have to do with the training of teachers for church schools should require thoroughness of preparation, lest the church school work be retarded by reaction from disastrous experiments. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.13

“10. We recommend, That our brethren everywhere study diligently the principles of Christian education, and step out by faith, as new light shall be given and put the principles learned into practical use. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.14

“11. While we recognize the importance of educating our children under the most favorable influences, still we would caution all against taking extreme positions or making unwise utterances, which might bring reproach upon the reforms we desire to advance. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.15

“12. We call upon Seventh-day Adventist teachers, who have been successful in secular schools, to consecrate their talents and experience to the cause of the third angel’s message, to study the principles given this people upon the subject of Christian education, and to hold themselves in readiness to fill places in our school work as the providence of God opens the way. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.16

“13. We approve the movement to organize young people’s societies for more effectual missionary service; and we recommend that a committee of nine or more, representative persons be appointed to form a plan of organization, and report it to this Conference for consideration. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.17

“14. Earnest efforts should be made to save the children of unbelievers by the establishment of branch Sabbath-schools wherever practicable. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.18

“15. Careful study should be given to the subject of Sabbath-school conventions, and normal classes should be conducted in connection with them wherever practicable, that this agency, which has already accomplished so much good, may be attended with still greater success. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.19

“16. Resolved, That we encourage all our schools where the facilities will permit to organize a preparatory course to fit young people for our regular nurses’ training-school course; and that this course cover elementary instruction in anatomy, physiology, hygiene, both practical and theoretical, chemistry, botany, natural philosophy, astronomy, cooking, physical culture, Bible, accidents and emergencies, and simple treatments. But the schools shall not offer diplomas to such students, as professional nurses. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.20

“17. Resolved, That each of our denominational colleges and academies provide such a course of instruction as will qualify students to enter the American Medical Missionary College. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.21

“18. Resolved, That we approve the plan set forth on page 8 of the GENERAL CONFERENCE BULLETIN of helping our larger schools to teach the languages of the countries nearest their respective fields, and of printing tracts in those languages; and we request the General Conference Committee to take measures to set this plan into speedy operation. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.22

“19. We recommend that the General Conference Committee develop plans by which the blind may receive instruction according to the principles of true Christian education. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.23

C. C. LEWIS,
“For the Committee.”

The Chair: This is the additional report submitted. We will turn to page 207 of the BULLETIN, and there find the report which was under consideration. Our meeting adjourned while we were considering Recommendation No. 4, What is the pleasure of the Conference concerning this report of the Committee printed on page 207? The Secretary will read the fourth recommendation. GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.24

The Secretary [reading]: “4. That we recommend that in the appointment of school boards, persons be chosen who can efficiently represent the various lines of work taught in those schools.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.25

[As W. C. White, who desired to speak to this resolution, could not be present for a few minutes, Recommendation 5 was called for.] GCB April 18, 1901, page 306.26

The Secretary [reading]: “5. We recommend that our schools show their appreciation of the gift of the book, ‘Christ’s Object Lessons,’ by encouraging their teachers and students to devote their summer vacations to the sale of the book.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.1

C. H. Jones: I understand that the first four recommendations refer to church schools, and that the fifth one refers to our colleges and academies. I think the intent of the resolution is all right, but I am afraid it expresses a little more than we wish. It reads in such a way that all our teachers and students in these schools be encouraged to devote their summer vacations to the sale of this book. Our colleges and academies have training classes to educate canvassers to handle our larger books and other books, as well as “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Very often we encourage canvassers to leave the field for a time to go to colleges to get a further education and training along this line. Do we wish it understood that these canvassers who have been engaged in the work of selling our regular subscription books are to spend their summer vacation in canvassing for “Christ’s Object Lessons,” or is it those who have not been engaged in the work heretofore, that are intended? GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.2

C. C. Lewis: It is those who are not engaged in the work, that are chiefly intended. GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.3

C. H. Jones: This being the intent of the committee, I would therefore offer a substitute to Recommendation 5, that the idea intended may be more clearly conveyed: “We recommend. That our educational institutions show their appreciation of the gift of the book, ‘Christ’s Object Lessons,’ by encouraging their teachers, and such students as have not been trained to handle other works, to devote their summer vacation to the sale of this book.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.4

The motion was seconded. GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.5

The Chair: You have heard the motion. Are you ready for the question? Those in favor say, Aye. Contrary, No. It is carried. GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.6

The Chair: The resolution that was passed for the moment is No. 4. Brother White is here. The resolution will be read again. GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.7

The resolution was read as follows:—“That we recommend that in the appointment of school boards, persons be chosen who can efficiently represent the various lines of work taught in these schools.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.8

W. C. White: I regard this matter as one of great importance. We choose the school boards to control the property, to shape the general plans, to select the faculty, and thus be governors of the school enterprise. For this work we must fulfill the specifications given to Israel as to the men that they should choose for their government. The instruction was to choose from among the most able men such as feared God, loving truth and hating covetousness. We must study this, and in our selection for burden bearers, not only in our schools, but in our sanitarium work, in our Conference work, in every feature of our work, in all our local church work, we must measure the men selected by these specifications. There must be able men, men who have ability to advance the work committed to them. Good men, who, lacking ability to do, may be sought as counselors, but in all the management of our work we must have able to men, to whom God has given ability to advance,—men who have been making a success in what they have undertaken; men who can look out and see where to work, that can use the ability which God has given them for the enterprise they have in hand. In our schools we are working on the principle that we learn by doing. Therefore, we have, in addition to the classroom, the school home, in which the student is trained in all his home life. We have the farm, in which he is taught industry, as we regard agriculture as the A B C, as the beginning of our work. Then we have different enterprises in our schools. Therefore, in selecting men to manage our schools, we must have men on our boards who understand the principles of education; men who know what teaching is. We must have upon the board, men who know what good government is, and will exercise their wisdom in the selection of fathers and mothers, who shall stand in our homes. Brethren I hope the day is nearly come when the idea of the name of preceptor and preceptress, or the preceptor and preceptress, as they have been chosen in the past among students who have graduated a year or two before, will pass away, and that we shall select for our school homes a man and his wife—persons who have brought up children—who have the experience and all the instincts of the father and the mother. In selecting managers, we must have men who know what is required in the home, who will insist that our school homes be home life. Then we want business men who understand financial affairs, and who can select wise business managers. We want men who understand farming, if we have a farming department. If we have a mechanical department, we want men who understand mechanics. We want practical men to represent the different enterprises of the school. Is not that he principle you have brought into your General Conference? Is not that the principle we are going to bring into all our work? I pray God that the home influence may prevail in our school. What will you do with this present system of selecting for school boards, Conference presidents who are chosen for their office? Let us drop it. It is time to drop it. It is not our work, brethren. It is not our business that is to advance by hunting for influence. Why, the apostles did not have influence enough to be kept out of prison, but the Lord had power enough to shake the prison doors open. It is not influence we want, but power. Power will come to our work through practical men who are in actual contact with the work, guided by the Lord, in answer to earnest prayer and study. Then shall we not select for our school boards just as largely as possible men who live near enough to our schools to meet once a week in counsel? Shall we not make the board just as representative as possible of every feature of this work.” We need two members to represent the teaching work. I hope the day is not far distant when we shall not hasten our nominations and elections, as we have to do sometimes, but that we shall talk with men beforehand, and we receive pledges from them that if chosen to these positions; they will take time to study into the principles of the work that they are to govern. What can be more pitiful than to put a noble ship upon the ocean, freighted with life and with all the possibilities before it, and which has for its management a group of ministers, of school-teachers or farmers, that know nothing about navigation, and who excuse themselves from studying navigation because they are burdened with other things. Where would that ship go to? GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.9

A. T. Jones: It would go where it has gone. GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.10

W. C. White: But you know it is so convenient to have a school board that is composed of men who are in the field, and who never come around and sit with the faculty. It is so convenient to have a school board that is a school board in name only, but has nothing to do with the government of the school. It is very convenient to have it that way. But, brethren, it is not convenient in the end, and our faculties do not want it that way, the people do not want it that way, the presidents do not want it that way, and the men who are carrying the responsibilities do not ask for that. The principles were wrong. It was the result of a wrong conception as to the building up of the work, and nobody wants it that way. Let it die. GCB April 18, 1901, page 307.11

F. M. Wilcox: Do you apply that to church-school boards? GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.1

W. C. White: The same principles will apply to church-school boards as far as the circumstances are similar. Our church-school boards should have the best men,—men representing different features of the work; men who will promise in the fear of God to take time to study into the work, to read up, to study up, to become acquainted with what is required, and then give enough thought to the matter to be always improving, always growing wiser, always growing stronger; and as their views of the work broaden, they will be reaching out for other men, and bringing them in there. Here is a young man who is brought into our councils, and would become a strong counselor by and by. Leave him in it. Brethren, we want the spirit of adoption in our boards and committees. We want always to be looking out for new elements, bringing in every year new blood. Some of the old members that have served their term should stand aside, and bring new blood into the boards and committees. So, in our Conferences we want new blood on the Conference committees and in our institutions. Why, it is wonderful what it does for an old board to have one or two new members come into it. These new members, not being acquainted with the business, occupy the same relation to the board that the youngest child in the family did in the old Jewish order in the days of the Passover. You remember that at the time of the Passover the youngest child was expected to ask questions. “Why do you do this? or why do you do that?” Then the older members of the family would give a full history of the Passover and its meanings and its methods. And so on our Conference committees, on our school boards, on our publishing boards, and the different boards. If we bring a new man into the board, and he asks questions as to why we do this or why we do that, we ought to review all the purposes, and to repeat what the Lord has said as to how this work shall be done, and that would be a refreshing and help and instruction to those that had begun to forget it. It is the right principle, brethren, and God will bless us in it. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.2

C. C. Lewis: I should not like to see the Conference presidents left off our school boards entirely. I believe we need the counsel they can bring to us from the different fields where our students live. But I believe all the advantages mentioned can be gained, and the objections eliminated, by such a composition of the board as will bring in some of the Conference presidents, and also as an executive board, bring in these other elements that have been mentioned. The large board can meet once a year to shape the plans, and the executive board can carry on this work for the rest of the year. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.3

A. G. Daniells in the chair: Are you ready for the adoption of this recommendation? GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.4

Voices: Question, question. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.5

The Chair: The question is called. This is on the adoption of the entire report as it appears printed in the BULLETIN, the last one, as amended by Brother Jones. Those who favor the adoption of the report— GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.6

F. Jencks: Mr. Chairman, can there be no further discussion of the last resolution, the substitute submitted by Brother Jones? GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.7

The Chair: If anybody wants to hear more about it, I suppose we can. Our time is passing, and we have a great deal to do. We have very important committees to report, and do not need now to do any talking to fill up time. We want to get straight after the most important things; and if it is necessary to say anything more about this, to make matters plain, all right; but it does not seem to me that it needs an exhortation to convince us that this ought to be done, if it is plain. I suppose all— GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.8

Voices: Question, question. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.9

F. Jencks: Mr. Chairman, last fall when this work was presented in the different Conferences, many of the Conferences sent out their ministers on Conference pay to sell these books, and turn all the money they received on this fund. Now the question is, Do you expect these teachers and professors of the colleges to go out and turn in all the money they receive from the books? If so, who expects to pay them for the time? And if not, what commission do you expect to allow them? There should be uniformity of action on this matter. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.10

Voice: I would call for the reading of Resolution 5 again. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.11

The Secretary here read the resolution, as amended. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.12

E. E. Miles: I would like to offer a practical suggestion touching the question of the brother on the floor. Not long since, in one of our Eastern churches, which numbers 236 members, there we called together fifteen of them, who sat down and counted the cost, to see whether we had sufficient to fill the quota at six books per member in that church. Our quota would be 1,416. Very little available help seemed to be in hand for the sale of these books, and for some time but little had been done. These fifteen members took hold of the matter in this way: We will each become responsible for a certain number of books; we will sell those books ourselves, or we will hire them sold. Ten hundred and thirty-five copies were subscribed for, and we still had over 200 members who had not yet taken their quota. Some one raised the query if we should take it before the church, and then if the church responded, that those who had subscribed to take 100 and sell them or hire them sold, should not be cut down, so they would not have to take so many. That was vetoed instantly. No, they said, we are subscribing for just the number of books that we propose to take care of ourselves, individually, so then the 15 out of the 236 took 1,035 copies of the 1,416 copies. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.13

Now what did they do with those copies? I received a letter from the elder of another church, saying a sister who has been selling “Object Lessons.” now needs to receive commission. Her husband is out of work. I replied, “We have an arrangement by which this sister may receive commission.” I explained that there were those who would pay for books, that they were willing to allow commission on for others to sell. I also suggested to the brother that perhaps there would be some one in his own church who could take care of that kind of work. I called a few days later. GCB April 18, 1901, page 308.14

He had a smile on his face. He says, “We have provided for this case,” calling her by name, “and the South Lancaster church is not going to get the credit for it either.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.1

Now I believe that every church, in every school district, should sit down and count the cost. They will in this way provide for all the books that shall be sold by that entire church. Then, after that, let the other members have the same privilege, have the matter set before them in meeting, by writing letters to be sent to absent members, and let it all go on the plan of addition. Why?—Because a recent Testimony has said, Let this work go on steadily, perseveringly, grandly, until the last debt is paid on all our schools, and a fund created for the establishment of schools where educational work is much needed. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.2

Then we shall not only sell the required number to lift these debts, but by working on this plan of addition, we shall also have a fund created for the establishment of other schools? What then? The students who go out from these schools, and who need to earn some money, so that they can go back the next year to pursue their education, may receive these books, and go out to sell them on commission. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.3

P. T. Magan: I was not in the house when the substitute was offered. I am very strongly in favor of it, because it seems to me that it embodies a correct principle. I believe we all want to insist upon ourselves, and in our talk everywhere, that this “Christ’s Object Lessons’” work is not simply for the benefit of the schools. I believe that God has in mind not simply to assist the schools, but also to make this movement a blessing to the general book work, and that thing must ever be kept uppermost in our minds. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.4

Now, as I understand the substitute motion, it provides for the taking hold of this work by the students who have not already been taken on other works. I think this is all right; but I do not feel we should ever arbitrarily say to a student in our schools, “Now, you have never canvassed before, and because you have not canvassed you must take up ‘Object Lessons,’ and no other book to begin upon. I believe that matter should be left for the student to decide between himself and the Lord, as well as to how he will do. It seems to me that there is a principle there which we all want to recognize. I am sure our schools want to have some interest in training students to canvass for this book; but I believe, brethren, that our publishing houses have done a liberal thing, and it has cost them a lot of good hard cash to do it. If some of our students want to take up “Daniel and the Revelation,” or “Desire of Ages,” or some other book, the first thing, and all other things are equal, it is proper and right that they do that. If they are qualified to sell that class of books, it seems to me that our schools ought to be perfectly willing to allow them to do it and even encourage them. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.5

It seems to me that the one point upon which our schools want to pull on more than another is to make this book a people’s book. As I said the other morning, I say again, I do not believe that the Lord is so specially desirous of having just one particular way or means of selling books, as he is of having books sold. So all the people can take a part in this work if they are encouraged to do it. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.6

The suggestion that Brother Miles made will, I am sure, work well in some places, but it will not work in all places. I am strongly in favor of giving the students who can not work in that way, the forty per cent commission straight on the book if they go out to canvass for the book. But I do think this, that we all want to work to get just as much as is reasonable and right out of this enterprise. The more of this commission idea that is put into the thing, the less money you are going to have to pay these debts. You must bear in mind that the publishing houses have only agreed to give us 300,000 copies at this rate. At $1.25 per copy, allowing no commission to anybody, would not quite pay the debts as they stand to-day. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.7

But again: Some of these books will be in the Swedish and Danish languages, and the money for those books will not go to the schools, but to the Christiana Publishing House. We want to bear in mind, therefore, that we must conserve that fund all we possibly can. I think Brother Miles’s suggestion is a good one to keep down this matter of commissions as far as possible. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.8

If we do not pay these debts in this way, we must pay them in some other way. I will leave it to any man in this house if we shall ever get such an easy chance again to pay these debts. Another thing. As has been stated by Brother Miles and others, we must push this thing forward for all that we are worth now; for I will tell you, if we let it grow cold, if the general feeling there is toward the book work grows cold, you will have a job on your hands to warm it up again. I have heard it intimated since this Conference began, that this movement was sapping time and attention from other movements. We want to push the work while it is started. I believe that it will take less strength to do it now than to let it drag out and over a number of years. I believe our brethren will be better satisfied to have it go that way, than they will to have it go the other way. We want to bear in mind that if there is one thing that will bring cheer to the hearts of our brethren above any other, it will be to see the debts swept off from our institutions. I believe our people will then be full of courage to take hold of something else. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.9

E. E. Miles: I wish to remark further that over half the churches in New England have been working on the plan I have mentioned, and that at the close of this Conference they expect to go on following out the plan, so that there will not be one church in our Conference that has not used the abilities God has given them in planning for this work. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.10

G. Phillips: I don’t see how Brother Miles’s suggestion can be made practical in every case. In fact, if I understand the object of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” it is not simply to pay for the debts on the schools. There is another thing to be accomplished in this work. God wants us to break the lethargy now hovering over us, and I believe he intends to accomplish, through this, the object of getting our people to work. This very work of selling “Christ’s Object Lessons” is going to be one of the means of bringing in the latter rain among this people; for as we work, and realize our responsibility toward God in this matter, and as we start out to sell these books, we feel our need of a close connection with God. This will bring a general blessing to the entire denomination. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.11

The Chair: All in favor of the adoption of this report manifest it by the uplifted hand. Opposed, by the same sign. It is unanimously carried. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.12

E. E. Miles: I just simply wish to say that the desired results that this brother has mentioned are being reached in this plan under consideration. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.13

The Chair: What is the further pleasure of the Conference? GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.14

A. G. Daniells: Mr. Chairman, there is unfinished business. The partial report of the Committee on the Distribution or Labor. GCB April 18, 1901, page 309.15

Smith Sharp: There is a matter of unfinished business on page 232 of the BULLETIN that has not been acted upon, although it has been brought up before the Conference. Report No. 15, in the first column. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.1

The Chair: The Secretary will read report No. 15. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.2

The Secretary [reading]: “That the General Conference Executive Committee be authorized to make such transfers of the responsibility of appointing the boards of management of other educational institutions, and the transfers of titles of properties and obligations for debts, as the organization of the Union Conferences may indicate to be advisable.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.3

The Chair: Are there any remarks on this? Are you ready for the question? All in favor of the adoption of this part of the report, manifest it by the uplifted hand. Those opposed by the same. It is unanimously carried. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.4

Now we will call attention to the partial report of the Committee on the Distribution of Labor, as found in the BULLETIN for to-day. The Secretary will read the report. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.5

[Here the Secretary read the “Partial Report of Committee on Distribution of Labor,” as found on printed pages 281 and 282 of the BULLETIN.] GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.6

The Chair: What is the pleasure of the Conference with this report? GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.7

S. H. Lane: I move its adoption. This motion was seconded. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.8

M. C. Wilcox: Should not the word “recommendations” come after “following,” so that it would read like this: “The Committee on Distribution of Labor submits the following recommendations?” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.9

At the request of the Chair, the Secretary here read the first recommendation, after which the Chair opened it for remarks. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.10

L. R. Conradi: I would like to say just one word in order that our brethren may realize the needs of this field. It is a field as large as the United States in size, and it is a field with three times the population of the United States. If I consent to take the Mediterranean field for a time, it is my sincere prayer that one or two young men may be found to go to Constantinople and assist in that work. We have two hundred Sabbath-keepers there, and the church is scattered all over Asia Minor. Even if I do go there with all the rest of the work of the denomination, what I desire and pray for to-day is that one or two men may be found who are willing to go to that country. For my own part, I would rejoice to go with them together from place to place, so that they can get an experience in the work there. The Armenians who are there can not travel, on account of political difficulties. That is the reason an American should visit the field. As I said, I am going from place to place. There are some ninety or one hundred to be baptized. I do hope that the Lord will put it into the hearts of young men to go there. I believe there is a call. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.11

The Chair: Are there further remarks? GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.12

Delegates: Question! GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.13

The Chair: The question is called for. The Secretary will read the second recommendation. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.14

The Secretary [reading]: “2. That we consider favorably the request of the Australian brethren, that in case A. G. Daniells does not return to that field, G. A. Irwin take the presidency of the Australasian Union Conference.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.15

The Chair: The question is open for remarks. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.16

M. C. Wilcox: I would move an amendment to that recommendation, so that it will read uniformly with the other: “2. That G. A. Irwin take the presidency of the Australasian Union Conference.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.17

H. W. Cottrell: I second the motion. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.18

The Chair: You have heard the motion. Are there any objections to this? All in favor say, Aye; opposed, No. Carried. Open for remarks. Are you ready for the question? GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.19

The question was called, and the third recommendation was read by the Secretary:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.20

“3. That W. A. Hennig be invited to go to Australia to labor under the direction of the Australasian Union Conference.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.21

The question was called, and the next recommendation was read. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.22

“4. That O. E. Reinke, of Wisconsin, labor in the German work in New York City.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.23

W. S. Shreve: Inasmuch as no consultation has been had with the Wisconsin delegation in regard to Brother Reinke’s work, I would like to ask whether his field in Milwaukee has been considered in connection with this recommendation I would say that Brother Reinke has an increasing, growing interest with the Germans in Milwaukee, which is quite a large city; and as we have no other man to take the work, we would like to know what is to be done in that line. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.24

H. Shultz: We thought this matter over quite carefully, and I do not know that we have iron rules that will not bend. I think that if Brother Reinke has an interest in Milwaukee, a city of about 300,000, that needs to be followed up, it would be well for him to remain there for a time and follow up that interest and bind it off. Milwaukee has had more work done in it than any other city in the United States, where there are Germans. We need a man very badly in New York City, which has three times as many Germans as Milwaukee has inhabitants, and Milwaukee can be supplied more easily than the city of New York. And besides, I believe it would be a good idea to leave Milwaukee alone, as soon as that work is bound off, for a while, and let the church that is there go to work. It will do it good. Milwaukee has been preached almost to death, in my opinion, and if Brother Reinke has a good work, let him bind off that work, if it takes him until the Conference meets, and then he can go on to New York. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.25

The Chair: Further remarks? GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.26

The question was called, and the fifth recommendation was read by the Secretary:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.27

“5. That H. Meyer, of Missouri, labor in Chicago in the German work.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.28

The question being called, the next recommendation was read:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.29

“6. That D. B. Weber, of Kansas, labor in Missouri in the German work.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.30

The Chair: Remarks to this? The next. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.31

The Secretary [reading]: “7. That Elder H. J. Dirksen, of Manitoba, connect with Brother Henry Block for a number of months, advising and aiding him in his work.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.32

The Chair: Remarks to this? GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.33

H. Shultz: After looking that work over, Brother Block is rather young in the work, and inexperienced; that field is a way up yonder, about as far as white people generally go, and it is a large field, and there is only a spur of a railroad running up into the field. Many often travel there by foot or by wagon for one hundred miles in all directions to find their field. And as Brother Block is inexperienced, we thought it would be a splendid thing to have Elder Dirksen, who has a great deal of experience, go up there into that field and stay there about ten or twelve months, and help Brother Block, to put him into the work, so that he can leave him afterward, and the work will go on. This thing of sending a man without any experience away up into a new field, and then letting him get along as best he can, without somebody to guide in the way, looks to me to be altogether out of place. I think that the old-fashioned way we had twenty-five years ago of yoking a young man up with a couple of old, stanch preachers, for about two years, until he gets well broken into the harness, and then leaving him to go on with the work himself, is best. GCB April 18, 1901, page 310.34

A Delegate: Several of us would like to know where Henry Block is. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.1

H. Shultz: In Alberta, right close to the Rocky Mountains, where the Rockies and the Cascades come together, up in British America, what is known as Northwest Territory. It is right east of British Columbia. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.2

W. A. Spicer: Could not that be inserted here, so that people living outside would know what the recommendation means?—“Brother Henry Block, of Alberta, Northwest Territory?” GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.3

The Chair: Very well. Further remarks on this? The next. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.4

The Secretary [reading]: “8. That Elder I. N. Williams, of the Quebec Conference, labor in the Pennsylvania Conference.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.5

The question was called, and Recommendation 9 was read, as follows:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.6

“9. That Elder S. A. Farnsworth, of the New England Conference, take the presidency of the Quebec Conference, to be made vacant by the change of Elder Williams.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.7

The question was called, and the next recommendation was read:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.8

“10. That Elder A. E. Place take the presidency of the New England Conference, to be made vacant by the change of Elder Farnsworth.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.9

Recommendation 11 was next read:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.10

“11. That William Wendland, of Minnesota, labor in Manitoba, in the German work, connecting with Elder H. J. Dirksen.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.11

J. J. Graf: There is here a principle that Brother Shultz brought out with reference to the young laborers, that applies in this case. For that reason I would like to know if Brother Dirksen expects to take this laborer along with him and work, in connection with a few young laborers. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.12

H. Shultz: No, sir; that is not expected. Manitoba borders on North Dakota, right north of Minnesota and North Dakota. Alberta is eleven hundred miles northwest of Manitoba, and they are far apart. The expectation is that as Brother Wendland goes up to Manitoba in that large German field, Elder Dirksen being in there, they are to labor together for a little while, and after he has him broken in, then Elder Dirksen will take his departure. Brother Dirksen is an old minister, of long experience, and has vigor and vim, and I would like to yoke him up with this young man. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.13

The next recommendation was here read, as follows:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.14

“12. That John Isaac, of the Dakota, Conference, labor in Wisconsin, in the German Work.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.15

The question being called, Recommendation 13 was then read:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.16

“13. That Elder J. W. Boynton, of Nebraska, labor in Alberta, Northwest Territory. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.17

The Chair: We are now ready for the adoption of this report. All in favor of the adoption of these recommendations as now considered, manifest it by saying Aye; those opposed, No. It is unanimous. What is the further pleasure of the Conference? GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.18

I. H. Evans: The Committee on Distribution of Laborers has a partial report. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.19

The Chair: The Committee on the Distribution of Laborers has a further partial report to present. Brother Knox will come forward. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.20

W. T. Knox [reading]: “The Committee on the Distribution of Laborers suggests the following additional recommendations:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.21

“14. That J. T. Boettcher be invited to make Germany his field of labor. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.22

“15. That A. J. Miller and wife be invited to go to Germany, and engage in medical missionary work. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.23

“16. That N. Z. Town be invited to take the superintendency of the Argentine Mission Field. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.24

“17. That John Maas and wife be invited to go to Argentine, and engage in school work. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.25

“18. That Miss Clara Richards be invited to go to Argentine, and engage in medical missionary work. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.26

“19. That Jacob Wibbens be invited to make Holland his field of labor, under pay of the Colorado Conference.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.27

The Chair: This report will be printed in the BULLETIN, and be on hand tomorrow. Are there other committees prepared to report? GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.28

Geo. B. Thompson: The Committee on Nominations has a partial report. The Secretary is Elder Spicer. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.29

The Chair: We will hear the report. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.30

W. A. Spicer: The Committee on Nominations, considering the nominees for the General Conference Committee, presents a partial report. First, I will read, as incidentally connected with this, the nominees elected the other day by the Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association. Six of the general committee, you will remember, were to be selected by that association,—J. H. Kellogg, David Paulson, W. W. Prescott, H. F. Rand, J. C. Ottosen. A. J. Read,—leaving nineteen to be selected by this body. Of that nineteen eight are possibly to be the presidents of the Union Conferences in America, and two Union Conference abroad. But as that selection was subject to the approval of this body, we are not this morning prepared to report on those eight, as we have not yet received the complete report of the districts. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.31

The additional names selected by this Committee on Nominations are as follows: S. N. Haskell, J. N. Loughborough, A. G. Daniells, A. T. Jones, E. J. Waggoner, I. H. Evans, W. C. White, S. H. Lane, D. H. Kress, E. A. Sutherland, Frederick Griggs. This makes the eleven members of the General Conference Committee who, together with the six members nominated by the Medical Missionary Association and the eight presidents of Union Conferences, will form the entire committee of twenty-five. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.32

Concerning the name of D. H. Kress, I will state (as those who were present the other morning will remember), that the Committee on Nominations had put forward the name of W. W. Prescott, and he had been accepted as a nominee from our committee; but the Medical Board put his name on their nominations, so as an answer to that, we have put Dr. Kress upon our nominations. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.33

For the General Conference Association Committee of twenty-one, to be nominated by this house, the Nominating Committee suggests the following:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.34

The first six members to be the presidents of the American District Union Conferences: the remaining fifteen members to be I. H. Evans, C. H. Jones, J. Sutherland, W. A. Wilcox, S. H. Lane, P. T. Magan, C. M. Christiansen, J. D. Gowell, C. W. Flaiz, G. B. Thompson, J. M. Rees, C. D. Rhodes, Wm. Covert, W. J. Stone, and J. S. Comins. GCB April 18, 1901, page 311.35

[Large sheets of paper with the names of the nominees written thereon were placed before the delegates for study.] GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.1

The Committee on Nomination did have a report on local school boards, but since consulting with the members since this morning’s discussion on the resolutions presented by the Educational Committee, we have decided not to report on the school boards until we give those interested an opportunity to make any changes they desire. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.2

The Nominating Committee recommends to the Conference that the selection of transportation agents be referred to the General Conference Committee. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.3

G. B. THOMPSON, Chairman.
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

The Chair: What is the pleasure of the Conference with reference to this partial report? GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.4

G. G. Rupert: I move that we adopt this partial report. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.5

C. A. Beeson: I second the motion. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.6

The Chair: It is moved and seconded that we adopt this partial report. The first part of the report read was the names of those who were brought in by the Medical Missionary Association, and which becomes a part of this report. Of course these names having been accepted by that association, we accept them. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.7

[The names of each one of the eleven nominees for the General Conference Committee were read by the chairman and the question called on each, without any remarks.] GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.8

The Chair: Shall we now vote upon this part of the report? The question is called for. All in favor of the adoption of this part of the report, manifest it by the uplifted hand. Opposed by the same sign. It is carried unanimously. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.9

We now have before us the names of the members of the General Conference Association. First come the six presidents of the six American District Union Conferences, whose names are not given. Then come the fifteen other names. [The name of each one was read, and the question called, without remarks.] All in favor of the adoption of this report as submitted, please manifest it by saying, Aye. Opposed, No. It is carried unanimously. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.10

The Nominating Committee request that they be released from selecting names of persons to act as the Transportation Committee, but that this be done by the General Conference Committee. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.11

The request was granted by a vote of the Conference. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.12

The Chair: What is your further pleasure? GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.13

Allen Moon: The Committee on Religious Liberty has a partial report. Brother Bollman is the secretary, and is ready to present their report to us. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.14

C. P. Bollman [reading]: “Your committee appointed to consider the interests of the religious liberty work, would respectfully submit the following recommendations:— GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.15

“1. That in harmony with the plan of reorganization adopted by the General Conference, the International Religious Liberty Association place its work, property, funds, and obligations in the hands of the General Conference as soon as that body shall be prepared to assume these responsibilities. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.16

“2. That for the present, or until the expiration of the lease upon the rooms at 324 Dearborn St., the headquarters of the religious liberty work, the publication of the Sentinel of Liberty, and of the Religious Liberty Library, be continued in Chicago. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.17

“3. That until further action by the General Conference either in open session or by its Executive Committee, the religious liberty work be carried on under the name of the International Religious Liberty Association. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.18

ALLEN MOON, Chairman.
C. P. BOLLMAN, Secretary.

Wm. Woodford: I move that we accept this report. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.19

C. M. Christiansen: I second the motion. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.20

M. C. Wilcox: I move that this report be made the special order for the hour that shall be given to the Religious Liberty Association by the Committee on Arrangements. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.21

Wm. Woodford: I second the motion. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.22

The motion was put, and carried. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.23

The names of the Committee on Licenses and Credentials provided for in the College Chapel at 5:30 A. M. are: G. A. Irwin, O. A. Olsen, H. Shultz, L. Johnson, I. H. Evans, M. C. Wilcox, R. A. Underwood. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.24

Voted to adjourn. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.25

Benediction by Elder R. M. Kilgore. GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.26

O. A. OLSEN, Chairman.
L. A. HOOPES, Secretary.

“LEARN as if you were to live forever: live as if you were to die to-morrow.” GCB April 18, 1901, page 312.27